DAY FOR THE FRENCH TO CONQUER PARIS

By ROGER M. WILLIAMS, Special to the New York Times

Published: May 28, 1987

PARIS, May 27—
Despite the leaden skies, it was a bright and wholly unexpected day of triumph for French tennis. Two of France's lightly regarded young players defeated the world's third-ranking man and fourth-ranking woman while another young Frenchman buried in the depths of the computer listings beat an American 262 places above him.

The three victories were all accomplished in straight sets: Eric Winogradsky over Stefan Edberg of Sweden, 7-6, 7-6, 7-5; Nathalie Herreman over Hana Mandlikova of Czechoslovakia, 6-4, 7-6, and Patrice Kuchna, No. 325 on the men's professional computer, by 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 over Andre Agassi of Las Vegas, Nev.

France is a country with a rich tennis tradition, but it has a history of frustration in its own national championships. Since Suzanne Lenglen and the famed Musketeers ruled the sport in the 1920's and early 30's, French singles players have won what is now called the French Open only five times.

Before Yannick Noah triumphed in 1983, the last French player to capture the men's singles title was the all but forgotten Marcel Bernard in 1946. No woman has won the French title since Francoise Durr did it in 1967 and none had done it for 28 years before that. The most history-minded officials of the French Tennis Federation could not remember today when one of their female compatriots last reached even the quarterfinals. Tournament Gaining Prestige

Meanwhile, the French Open itself has been steadily gaining in stature. It is now regarded as the third most important tournament in the world, behind Wimbledon and the United States Open.

All the French Open lacked was good French players. Noah changed that in the men's ranks. So did Henri Leconte, the world's ninth-ranked player, and Guy Forget, a top doubles player.

Yet until today the French had little to cheer for in women's tennis. Each new hopeful who joined the tour performed respectably but no better.

For the tennis itself, played on a wet slow court, today's French victories were unexceptional. Winogradsky beat an Edberg who nowadays seldom plays well on clay. And Herreman caught Mandlikova on one of her frequent far-off days.

Both of the French players showed admirable poise bearing the weight of center court history and the hopes of some 15,000 spectators.

The reactions of Winogradsky and Herreman to their upset victories differed strikingly. The tall, slender Winogradsky, who had played his serve-and-volley game despite the slowness of the court, treated the occasion almost matter-of-factly.

''I thought if I served well, I had a chance,'' he said. ''And I did that. Anyway, when I take the court, I always like to think I can win.'' However, he had never before beaten a player in the top 50. Victory at 'Chez Moi'

Herreman, on the other hand, was clearly elated. Her eyes sparkled and the words tumbled forth as she described her play and thoughts. Coming on court right after Winogradsky's victory had, she said, been difficult:

''I thought, 'I'll never be able to win like that.' But then I thought, 'No, it's a day for the French. I'll have to do it,' '' she said.

Competing in Roland Garros Stadium, she added, was a special incentive: ''I play all year other places and when I get to Roland Garros, that's chez moi. It's the dream of all French players, men and women alike, to do well here.''